University of North Dakota head baseball coach
Jeff Dodson announced
Mitch Mormann as the new assistant coach on his staff in August 2015. Mormann comes to UND from Ohio University, where he helped the Bobcats to the biggest turnaround in the NCAA, winning 36 games including a Mid-American Conference title and an NCAA Tournament berth.
"We are thrilled, to say the least, to get a coach of Mitch's background in our program," Dodson said at the time of his hiring. "He comes highly recommended by some very respected pitching coaches across the country. His personality and work ethic will be a great fit for the UND baseball program."
The 2015 Bobcats improved 25 games over their 11-win total the season prior. Ohio's 36 wins were the second-most in school history as the team appeared in its first NCAA Regional since 1997. Under Mormann's tutelage, Bobcat closer Logan Cozart earned MAC Pitcher of the Year accolades and was later selected in the 21st round of the Major League Baseball draft by the Colorado Rockies. Cozart was one of 10 finalists for the Gregg Olson Award, honoring college baseball's breakout player of the year.
In 2014, Mormann was an assistant coach at Des Moines Area Community College and assisted Coach Kyle Hanna with pitching and other various duties.
Mormann led the DMACC Bears to a 40-18 overall record including an ICCAC regular season championship. Contributing to player development, a total of nine DMACC players from the 2014 season went on to play baseball at the division one level four of which were pitchers.
In the summer of 2014, Mormann was hired as the pitching coach for the High Point-Thomasville HiToms of the Coastal Plains Collegiate League. Mormann led to HiToms pitching staff to the leagues sixth best 3.89 ERA. The HiToms were also top 5 in several pitching categories including: Opposing BA (.250), strikeouts (413) & fewest walks allowed (184). The HiToms finished a strong season with a CPL West Division playoff appearance before losing to the Florence Redwolves.
Mormann played under many successful coaches in his collegiate career. Some of those coaches include former Wichita State coach Gene Stephenson - the 2nd winningest NCAA Division 1 Baseball coach of all time, LSU head coach Paul Mainieri and Dallas Baptist assistant and recruiting coordinator Dan Fitzgerald.
Mormann pitched for DMACC Bears during the 2008 and 2009 seasons, when the team went an impressive 103-29. During those two seasons, DMACC won titles in ICCAC regular season, ICCAC Regional XI Tournament, and North Plains District Tournament, which qualified the Bears for the NJCAA Division II World Series. A two-time All-Conference selection and 2009 preseason All-American, Mormann set two single season DMACC pitching records: the saves record with 12 in 2008 and the wins record the season after with 10. Additionally, in his time at DMACC, he was selected in the MLB Draft in the 17th round by the Cleveland Indians in 2008, and the 25th round by the San Francisco Giants in 2009. That summer, Mormann played for the Falmouth Commodores in the prestigious Cape Cod League.
After DMACC, Mormann attended Louisiana State University. He was a member of the SEC Tournament Championship Team and NCAA Regional Qualifying team hosted by UCLA. While pitching for the Tigers, Mormann assumed the set-up role in the bullpen where he had 19 appearances with a 3-0 record. Mormann then transferred to Wichita State University. In 2011, his redshirt year, Mormann was again drafted for the third time, this time by the Detroit Tigers, in the 25th round. He went into his senior year as a weekend starter. In 53 innings he went 3-3, posted a 3.97 ERA, and held opposing hitters to a .237 batting average.
After his time at Wichita State, Mormann signed a free agent contract with the San Francisco Giants and then went on to play professional baseball for the Normal Cornbelters of the Frontier League.
Mormann received his bachelor's degree in sports management from Wichita State.
